Enhanced Japanese aid for North

The Government of Japan is supporting the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the Northern Province through a number of projects implemented through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The 4-year technical cooperation project for capacity enhancement of the National Solid Waste Management Support Center (NSWMSC) provides training, technology transfer and essential equipment for the NSWMSC. NSWMSC was established in 2006 under the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils (MLGPC) to provide expert advice and support to the local authorities in solid waste management, a JICA spokesman said.

On a request from the Northern Provincial Council at the end of the armed conflict, a team from MLGPC, NSWMSC and JICA was dispatched to the IDP center at Menik Farm to survey and propose immediate measures required to improve sanitation issues and address waste disposal.

The team prepared an action plan which included measures to improve waste collection and transportation, waste disposal outside the IDP center and overall waste management. Some of the measures proposed were implemented by relevant governmental organizations as well as international donors/NGOs.These included increase of waste collection frequency, regular clearing of drains, utilizing additional waste disposal sites, increase of toilet facilities and provision of gully bowsers. The Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils has also established a site management office to monitor and manage the activities.

In view of the importance of maintaining proper sanitation conditions at the IDP centers, the Government of Japan has decided to allocate Rs. 117 million to assist in urgently implementing the crucial measures in the action plan.

These funds generated through the 2KR Counterpart Funds which were provided by the Government of Japan under its Grant Assistance will be utilized by NSWMC to supply required equipment for transportation and disposal of solid waste and sewage, and also for transportation of water. The equipment will include 26 tractors, four tipper trucks, two loaders, one backhoe loader and two pickup trucks. In addition the funds will also be used for improvement of roadside drains in the IDP center.The Government of Japan and JICA’ s support to the Government of Sri Lanka is provided mainly through a combination of three aid instruments viz. - Technical Cooperation, Concessionary Loans (Japanese ODA loans) and Grant Aid.

Through an ODA loan program, JICA is currently assisting the rehabilitation of irrigation facilities in Mannar and Vavuniya Districts where returned IDPs would soon recommence agricultural activities. Another Japanese ODA loan supports a micro-finance project to provide 2,100 million Japanese Yen (Rs.2520 million) credit facilities for income generation activities in agriculture, fisheries, small business etc. The microfinance credit will be provided to 14 districts in the country, and more than 50% of total credit will be allocated to Northern and Eastern regions in line with JICA’s commitment to ensure inclusive development by reducing regional disparities.

Under technical cooperation, apart from the support to the NSWMSC, JICA also plans to commence a training programme to provide training opportunities to improve the capacity of frontline officers in the North and East, who will bear substantial responsibilities in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the region.The grant-aid projects in the Northern region funded by the Government of Japan include Mannar bridge and causeway connecting Mannar island to the mainland which is expected to be completed by March 2010 and significantly improve access and exchange between the two locations.

Agricultural equipment such as tractors will be provided to meet the immediate needs of agricultural development through grant-aid. The Government of Japan has also provided 1,870 million Japanese Yen (Rs. 2,250 million) since 2009 to support IDP rehabilitation and de-mining activities in the North.

Through these projects the Government of Japan and JICA aims to support the people in Northern region towards achieving the objectives of human security and stabilization of peace, the JICA spokesman added.